King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived to a cheering crowd as they were warmly welcomed to the City of Culture Bradford.
Their Majesties, travelled to West Yorkshire, where they are packing in five public engagements, starting with a colourful song and music-led visit at Bradford Live where they are meeting performers and creatives involved in the region’s year as UK City of Culture.
Camilla looked typically elegant in an ice blue dress and coat by Anna Valentine with two diamond dragonfly brooches from her own collection.
Meanwhile a beaming Charles looked smart in a grey suit which he paired with a purple shirt and tie.
The royals shook hands with members of the public who were patiently awaiting their arrival.
Bradford Live’, a 3,000-capacity entertainment and event venue, where they were greeted by a performance of eight musicians from Paraorchestra, an integrated ensemble of professional disabled and non-disabled musicians.
Inside the recently-regenerated entertainment venue, which has stood in the city centre since 1930, The King and Queen also watched a rehearsal by local pupils of ‘Sing, Dance, Leap’, an education programme in schools across the city run by the Royal Ballet and Opera with Northern Ballet and Opera North.
They are also due to join a reception attended by artists, contributors to the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture programme, and other guests, where the King will meet young people from Bradford who have been supported by The King’s Trust.
King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive to a cheering crowd as they are warmly welcomed to the City of Culture Bradford
This includes Bradford born-magician and alumnus of The Trust, Steven Frayne – formerly known as Dynamo.
Charles and Camilla will then go their separate ways for a string of engagements during the day with the King finally visiting Cartwright Hall.
The art gallery and community cultural space in Bradford’s Lister Park which has a David Hockney gallery, dedicated to the life and career of the Bradford-born artist.
The collection includes a unique selection of Hockney’s work from the 1950s and reproductions of personal photos, on display in a public gallery for the first time.
Keen artist Charles is known to love Hockney’s work and recently visited him privately when he returned to the UK to live.
The King will also meet local people involved in grassroots cultural activities and community groups in the city, watch a performance by the Bantam of the Opera choir, a group of local Bradford City Football Club fans taught to sing opera by BBC Radio Leeds, and undertake a public walkabout.
Their busy programme will conclude tomorrow when the King is joined by Prince William for a service for the Order of the Bath – an ancient British order of chivalry – to mark its 300th anniversary year at Westminster Abbey.
Yesterday the couple held a garden party at Buckingham Palace for 7,000 guests working in the fields of education and skills.
The royals shook hands with members of the public who were patiently awaiting their arrival
Queen Camilla greets wellwishers at Bradford Live in Bradford
King Charles and Queen Camilla watch a rehearsal by local school pupils at Bradford Live
Charles and Camilla meet with local school pupils at Bradford Live, to celebrate the city’s year as UK City of Culture
The royals watched the young students perform at the Bradford Live venue
Charles beamed as he greeted and spoke to the young performers after their rehearsal
Meanwhile a beaming Charles looked smart in a grey suit which he paired with a purple shirt and matching tie as he was greeting by officials
Queen Camilla met a well-wisher outside Bradford Live, during her visit to celebrate the city’s year as UK City of Culture
The king beamed as he was warmly welcomed by well wishers in Bradford on Thursday
King Charles looked dapper in a grey suit, with a light cream waistcoat, and a pale blue tie, which featured little submarines.
Charles was ‘in his element’ as he chatted to one lady who has set up a charity teaching endangered heritage arts and crafts to young people suffering from complex neurological conditions in memory of her late son.
He also chatted knowledgeably with a university student sadly suffering from cancer about radiation treatment.
And he delighted a group of ladies in the crows after spotted their beautiful colourful traditional dress. ‘You must be from Nigeria?’ he said.
‘Yes!’ said Professor Adetoro Adegoke from Buckinghamshire New University.
She smiled afterwards: ‘I was vibing him to come over here! He told me he had been to Nigeria and it was vast. How amazing that he recognised Yoruba immediately. Wonderful man.’
The event was held at the request of the government to thank people working in the education and skills sector. It was attended by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.
After standing for the national anthem the couple were clapped as they walked to meet as many in the crowds as possible.
